Advocacy
From the President Your Vote is Your Voice
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Mission: The National Art Education Association (NAEA) advances visual arts education to fulfill human potential and promote global understanding.1 NAEA members care deeply about the mission of our organization and participate meaningfully in shaping the culture of our professional community and the future of our association. Members are encouraged to fulfill their own potential through leadership service. While there are numerous leadership opportunities throughout NAEA, those who are nominated to serve on the national Board of Directors commit to represent members throughout our association, provide exemplary stewardship of NAEA’s mission, and set priorities to ensure a strong and healthy professional association. Fifteen members serve on the NAEA Board. The President presides over the Board, serves as the official spokesperson, and works closely with the Executive Director; other Board members include President-Elect, Past President, four Regional Vice Presidents, and seven Division Directors. How does NAEA’s election process work? Each year, any member may nominate any member for open positions. Those elected serve a two-year term as Elect prior to serving on the Board; this prepares the Elect for the position. Annually, as terms expire and Elects move onto the Board, new energy and dynamics ensure robust conversation and decision-making. The work of each Board contributes to NAEA’s evolution and successive Boards influence the priorities, approve the budget, and allocate funding to support the goals and plans. Each Board leaves its personal collective legacy by the progress accomplished during their tenure.2 The election process begins with the submission of nomination packets before the deadline of July 1. Members with state, regional, and national arts education leadership experience are appointed to serve on the Nominating Committee. Each nominee is scored using criteria specific to the position, focusing on relevant experience and review of their vision statement. From those nominated for each position, two individuals are carefully selected as candidates for the ballot. In late November, an e-mail invites every member to cast their vote. Members can review qualifications for each candidate, including their professional experience, state and national participation, publications/exhibits, and vision for our association. As a nonprofit, professional association, NAEA's Board is key to its future. Unfortunately, too few members actually cast votes in our annual elections. Our Board is committed to increasing voter participation. Many members refrain from voting as they feel they do not know the candidates. In any election, it’s important to decide what strengths you’re looking for in a candidate, to research their positions on the issues, and to learn about their leadership abilities. In my vision statement during the 2017 election, I stated, “I believe in NAEA’s potential to strengthen visual arts education
in America by building the leadership potential within its varied and diverse membership. As creative problem-solvers, art educators are already well-suited to be agents of social change and possess an aptitude to be dynamic leaders.” This November, when the election e-mail arrives, review each candidate’s bio. Their teaching and leadership experiences have prepared them well for an elected position on the NAEA Board. Read their vision statements and determine which candidate’s views you agree with most. You will find that all the candidates have leadership qualities, understand the needs and dreams of our art educator community, and are willing to dedicate their time to represent you and facilitate NAEA’s mission of advancing visual arts education. Help Decide the Future of Your A ssociation— Exercise Your Right to Vote! Another important election to consider takes place this year on November 7, Election Day in the United States. 2017 features gubernatorial and state legislative elections in Virginia and New Jersey. Elsewhere, ballots may include citizen initiatives, local mayoral races, special elections to fill vacancies in the United States Congress, and a variety of other local elections. As Election Day approaches, I once again encourage you to become informed about your candidates. A good source of information is the Action Center of the Arts Action Fund.3 View candidate bios, their political experience, and education. The Arts Action Fund was created by Americans for the Arts to support the arts and art education in America. They actively “stand up for every child’s right to a comprehensive, high quality arts education; promote public policies that provide individuals and families affordable access to all forms of the arts; rally national support against attacks to the arts; and build political influence to ensure bipartisan support for the arts.”4 Help Decide the Future of Your Profession—Exercise Your Right to Vote! A final comment from my 2017 vision statement: “My vision is a world where every NAEA member is contributing to the field using their full potential—remembering the passion that brought us into the field and sharing it with students, families, administrators, legislators, and fellow visual arts educators!” This November, contribute by making the effort to vote. Your vote is your voice. Be heard and make your vote count! 1 2 3 4
www.arteducators.org/about www.arteducators.org/about/governance-structure www.artsactionfund.org/pages/action-center www.artsactionfund.org/about/about-us
Kim Huyler Defibaugh, EdD 458 Tyler Street, Williamsburg, VA 23185. Tel: 757-585-7432. E-mail: [email protected]
Vol. 59, No. 5, October/November 2017
NAEA NEWS
3
Downloaded by [68.111.253.225] at 14:54 24 October 2017
Mission: The National Art Education Association (NAEA) advances visual arts education to fulfill human potential and promote global understanding.1 NAEA members care deeply about the mission of our organization and participate meaningfully in shaping the culture of our professional community and the future of our association. Members are encouraged to fulfill their own potential through leadership service. While there are numerous leadership opportunities throughout NAEA, those who are nominated to serve on the national Board of Directors commit to represent members throughout our association, provide exemplary stewardship of NAEA’s mission, and set priorities to ensure a strong and healthy professional association. Fifteen members serve on the NAEA Board. The President presides over the Board, serves as the official spokesperson, and works closely with the Executive Director; other Board members include President-Elect, Past President, four Regional Vice Presidents, and seven Division Directors. How does NAEA’s election process work? Each year, any member may nominate any member for open positions. Those elected serve a two-year term as Elect prior to serving on the Board; this prepares the Elect for the position. Annually, as terms expire and Elects move onto the Board, new energy and dynamics ensure robust conversation and decision-making. The work of each Board contributes to NAEA’s evolution and successive Boards influence the priorities, approve the budget, and allocate funding to support the goals and plans. Each Board leaves its personal collective legacy by the progress accomplished during their tenure.2 The election process begins with the submission of nomination packets before the deadline of July 1. Members with state, regional, and national arts education leadership experience are appointed to serve on the Nominating Committee. Each nominee is scored using criteria specific to the position, focusing on relevant experience and review of their vision statement. From those nominated for each position, two individuals are carefully selected as candidates for the ballot. In late November, an e-mail invites every member to cast their vote. Members can review qualifications for each candidate, including their professional experience, state and national participation, publications/exhibits, and vision for our association. As a nonprofit, professional association, NAEA's Board is key to its future. Unfortunately, too few members actually cast votes in our annual elections. Our Board is committed to increasing voter participation. Many members refrain from voting as they feel they do not know the candidates. In any election, it’s important to decide what strengths you’re looking for in a candidate, to research their positions on the issues, and to learn about their leadership abilities. In my vision statement during the 2017 election, I stated, “I believe in NAEA’s potential to strengthen visual arts education
in America by building the leadership potential within its varied and diverse membership. As creative problem-solvers, art educators are already well-suited to be agents of social change and possess an aptitude to be dynamic leaders.” This November, when the election e-mail arrives, review each candidate’s bio. Their teaching and leadership experiences have prepared them well for an elected position on the NAEA Board. Read their vision statements and determine which candidate’s views you agree with most. You will find that all the candidates have leadership qualities, understand the needs and dreams of our art educator community, and are willing to dedicate their time to represent you and facilitate NAEA’s mission of advancing visual arts education. Help Decide the Future of Your A ssociation— Exercise Your Right to Vote! Another important election to consider takes place this year on November 7, Election Day in the United States. 2017 features gubernatorial and state legislative elections in Virginia and New Jersey. Elsewhere, ballots may include citizen initiatives, local mayoral races, special elections to fill vacancies in the United States Congress, and a variety of other local elections. As Election Day approaches, I once again encourage you to become informed about your candidates. A good source of information is the Action Center of the Arts Action Fund.3 View candidate bios, their political experience, and education. The Arts Action Fund was created by Americans for the Arts to support the arts and art education in America. They actively “stand up for every child’s right to a comprehensive, high quality arts education; promote public policies that provide individuals and families affordable access to all forms of the arts; rally national support against attacks to the arts; and build political influence to ensure bipartisan support for the arts.”4 Help Decide the Future of Your Profession—Exercise Your Right to Vote! A final comment from my 2017 vision statement: “My vision is a world where every NAEA member is contributing to the field using their full potential—remembering the passion that brought us into the field and sharing it with students, families, administrators, legislators, and fellow visual arts educators!” This November, contribute by making the effort to vote. Your vote is your voice. Be heard and make your vote count! 1 2 3 4
www.arteducators.org/about www.arteducators.org/about/governance-structure www.artsactionfund.org/pages/action-center www.artsactionfund.org/about/about-us
Kim Huyler Defibaugh, EdD 458 Tyler Street, Williamsburg, VA 23185. Tel: 757-585-7432. E-mail: [email protected]
Vol. 59, No. 5, October/November 2017
NAEA NEWS
3
